Electoral fees deterrent to young women, youths

Gift Nyathi

Youths in Matebeleland region have expressed misgivings on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s registration fees for aspiring candidates, citing that the high fees protect rich elites at the expense of the poor in rural areas.

Speaking to Community Podium, a youth from Jimila in Tsholotsho,  Nonsikelelo Ncube said the charges do not augur well for people in rural areas. 

“This situation is unfavourable to most women in the rural areas because  they are not working but taking care of their families through odd piece jobs like doing laundry for the fortunate few so it is impossible for them to raise even  $100. Their jobs are erratic and there is no guarantee that they will be called for another job opportunity. How do you expect someone ophila ngokuhlakula lokugudula to afford such astronomic fees?”

 Another youth Amanda

Maseko from Ntale , Plumtree  said these charges further alienate unemployed  youths from participation. 

“These charges make these leadership positions a  preserve for men given the differences in employment rates between the two genders so it goes without saying that more men will continue advancing and having an upper hand in leadership spaces than women due to their financial muscle that gives them more chances because they already hold a greater share of employment opportunities.”

According to Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), the unemployment rate among males was 18 percent while for females it was 23 percent in 2022. 

“The candidate nomination fees gazetted  by ZEC discourage youth, particularly young women, from exercising their constitutional right to run for public office as enshrined in Section 67 of the country’s Constitution.  This systemic and structural exclusion of youth , particularly young women, has led to them not being able to meaninfully participate in elections as candidates. The current levels of unemployment, as well as the bulging of the informal economy have meant that a large portion of youth and women are excluded from accessing liquidity, particularly in the form of foreign currency. The exorbitant fees, therefore, impede  the representation of women and youth in public office and decision-making processes,” said WeLead communications officer, Karen Manzar

THE Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has been on record appealing for the reduction of these fees citing that they discourage potential people from partaking in political spaces especially youths and the women.

Last year, ZEC  increased nomination fees for presidential candidates from US$1,000 to US$20,000 per presidential candidate, for aspiring Members of Parliament it rose from US$50 to US1,000  and council is pegged at US$100.

Addressing delegates gathered at Bulawayo under the stakeholder engagement of different political parties and Civic society organisations, the Provincial  Administrator for Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Sithabile Moyo bemoaned the effect of these charges on women and young people in the country.  

“Young women and youths make up the majority of the unemployed  in the country and such exorbitant charges are bound to force them to shun political positions and reserve them for the employed and financially strong. Most women are informal traders and to run for  presidential election for vendors  is  impossible given the fee. These charges do not give women a  fair chance,” she said.

Recently, justice minister Ziyambi Ziyamba shot down calls for reduction of nomination fees. He told parliament that the fees were a closed chapter, having been approved by the “majority” of MPs.